updated 01:15 pm EDT, Fri April 25, 2008

AT&T/Starbucks Wi-Fi

AT&T and Starbucks have announced that they are finally beginning to deploy their joint Wi-Fi service, which lets existing AT&T customers go online from a cafe for free. To qualify, users must have one of AT&T's home or small business broadband packages, or a U-verse IPTV subscription; starting on May 1st, these people will need only login to "ATTWiFI" inside a Starbucks outlet. Some 7,000 locations should have Wi-Fi in May, though customers may already be able to login from San Antonio.

The company is also gradually opening the service to other customers, who may or may not have to pay. Costs will depend in the intensity of usage, and may also relate to money paid to Starbucks; many coffee shops in the US offer "free" Wi-Fi access, but only after someone has purchased food or a drink.

I still won't go...

DSL can log you in now

T-Mobile and ATT concluded a roaming agreement several weeks ago that put an ATT icon on the login screen at Starbucks wi-fi. If you have 1.5 DSL or better through ATT, you can logon free now. Normally I use my MBA but I have logged on with my iPhone at Starbucks. I have used this for 5 weeks and it was probably available before that. After the stores are converted to ATT, you would just see the ATT screen I guess.